One Thing That is Different About Traveling in the Backcountry

There are a lot of things that are different between our modern lives and traveling in the backcountry but a really important one is the impact of weather. In the modern world, we notice the weather, it may play a roll in how we plan our activities. But in the backcountry we are totally exposed and weather can have deadly impacts. 

Weather is a major factor when thinking about trail conditions. A rain storm can make things slippery, it can make water levels rise, changing the risk of stream crossings, it can make it hard to see the trail and lead to us getting disoriented. 

When dealing with weather, we need to first understand the weather forecast during the planning phases of our trip. We should be looking at forecasts right up until we start our trip as weather can change at the last minute. 

During our trip, we need to be diligent about observing the weather. If the weather turns bad, it is important to reevaluate our plans and if necessary make the decision to turn around or seek shelter. This is especially important if we are hiking in mountainous terrain, the topography of the mountains can cause some extreme weather. 

If you are interested in learning more about weather, including understanding what causes weather and how to read nature's clues to make your own predictions, check out our online class The Prepared Hiker System if you have not already so that you can be more prepared to make good decisions in the backcountry!